K'taka water crisis: NGT seeks cricket association's reply on water sources in Chinnaswamy stadium
New Delhi, May 3: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to furnish details about the various sources of water, including four 400-feet deep bore wells, in Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy stadium.
The tribunal, which was hearing the matter regarding the supply of treated water to the stadium for the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches amid the water crisis in the state, noted that the stadium's total usage or water consumption was 1,94,000 litre a day, of which 80,000 litre was fresh water.
The tribunal had earlier taken suo motu cognisance of a media report claiming that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) upon request of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has permitted the supply of treated water to the stadium.
Last month, it had directed the BWSSB to file a detailed report with complete details of the quantity and source of water being used in the stadium.
In an order passed on Thursday, a bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava noting the board's report pointed out that the stadium's different sources of water included four bore wells, each of 400 feet depth, and these bore wells were not equipped with meters for calculating water usage.
The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, noted that the report also said approval was granted for the daily supply of 64,000 litre of treated water for non-drinking purposes.
The stadium's total water consumption was 1,94,000 litre a day, of which 80,000 litre was fresh water, 50,000 litre was purchased or rain water harvested (RWH) water and 64,000 was treated water, the bench said citing the report.
The bench noted the reply of the KSCA about seeking some time for disclosing the "full details of various sources" from which it obtained water.
The tribunal directed the KSCA to also "disclose the details of permissions which have been granted in respect of the four bore wells", since when groundwater is being extracted from these bore wells and when they were dug, including the quantity of water extracted.
It also asked the association to share the particulars of the sewage treatment plant (STP) which had been set up in the stadium and the details of its operation or performance.
"Let the reply on above terms be filed by respondent no. 4 (KSCA) within four weeks," the tribunal said.
The matter has been posted for hearing on August 13 for further proceedings.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
